I know there must be tons of instructions on how to delete this or that file to fix this but they are usually for XP and I'm working from within Windows 8 so... How do I get to use the bows? I can equip them but they don't work. Except that once or twice the greater bow did shoot an arrow or two but then stopped working again. I'm trying to get through Highland Park with just the heroine wielding the bow and it's really frustrating.

Try deleting "settings.bin".
You probably find it somewhere under C:\Users\<You Username>\AppData\Local\

If you can't see the these folders, you might have to tell Windows to show system and hidden folders.
See here: https://kb.wisc.edu/page.php?id=27479

Look for \inXile entertainment\The Bard's Tale or a gog folder.


You can also search for the file with Windows Search function. Just include system and hidden folders in your search in the Advanced Options.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/search-file-explorer

I deleted the bin-folder and restarted but to no avail. The bard shoots a single arrow and then nothing. I have a terrible suspicion that the bow is needed to finish Highland Park and that my progression will come to a halt because of this.

Okay, so it turns out there was nothing wrong with the game itself and the problem is that I'm an idiot. You have to keep the attack button pressed for the bard to load his bow.

;-) No worries, it's working now and that's what counts.

I wouldn't be hard on yourself about that. How would you know to do that unless a manual or something told you?

Thanks for sharing the solution! Please mark the thread as "solved" so other users know that this thread *does* contain a solution.

I'm enjoying the game, but it's also very frustrating -- it lacks adequate documentation.